Trump Goes National for Romney

After playing a crucial role in Mitt Romney’s primary victories in Michigan and Ohio, billionaire Donald Trump is going nationwide with his support, voicing a robocall targeting voters in all 50 states.

“Voters across the United States should expect a call from Donald Trump praising Mitt Romney for his tough stances on China, OPEC, and other foreign countries that are depriving Americans of opportunities and jobs so that they can fulfill the American dream,” said Michael Cohen, Trump executive vice president and special counsel.

Trump, who endorsed Romney on Feb. 2, has been working on a national robocall — a type of automated message — for the Romney campaign, “taking his efforts for Romney from focused states with upcoming contests to an all-50-states approach,” ABC News reported.

Newsmax first disclosed Trump’s role as a secret weapon in the Romney campaign, pointing to his impact in the key Michigan primary.

Just a week before the vote in Romney’s home state, Rick Santorum led Romney by double digits. Then Trump forcefully backed Romney in a series of radio appearances and robocalls, helping to turn what had appeared to be an inevitable Santorum victory into a narrow victory for Romney, Newsmax observed.

Veteran Republican strategist Roger Stone told Newsmax that Romney did better than expected among the very voters Trump is most popular with: tea party supporters, Catholics, and voters who believe a business background is the best experience for a president.

Then in Ohio, Santorum again held a double-digit lead over Romney as recently as Feb. 29. The Romney campaign enlisted Trump for robocalls and radio interviews, with Trump again targeting tea party supporters and other voters thought to be opposed to Romney’s nomination. And the former Massachusetts governor eked out a narrow victory over Santorum in the March 6 vote.

When Ann Romney introduced her husband at his election night victory party, she thanked Trump “for being on the radio for us all the time in Ohio,” and called Trump an “honorary Buckeye.”

Going forward, the Romney campaign hopes Trump will continue to help the candidate with the conservative and tea party voters who have been reluctant to support him.

Stone added: “Mitt and his campaign can take solace that Donald Trump will continue to be a loyal supporter and his most crucial surrogate.”